Pope under fire as half of paedophile priests still in clergy

12 April 2012

More than half of Catholic priests convicted of sexually abusing children in the last decade are still listed as members of the clergy, it was reported.

A Channel 4 News investigation said that of 22 priests convicted and jailed for more than a year for child sex abuse since 2001, 14 were yet to be laicised or sacked from the Catholic Church of England and Wales.

Last night programme said some were still even receiving financial support from the Church and living in Church-owned property.

The revelations follow recommendations made in 2001 by senior Judge Lord Nolan, who suggested that any priest sentenced to a year or more in prison for sex offences against children should face "laicisation" - the stripping of their title, priesthood and privileges.

A spokesman for the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) said any priest being investigated for an offence against a child was automatically removed from active ministry.

He said: "This will usually include restrictions to not wear clerical garb and can include the requirement to move out of Church accommodation.

"Following a conviction and the serving of a prison sentence of 12 months or more, the above restrictions would still be in place."

But he added that, under Canon Law, a Bishop has no power to laicise a priest and must apply to Rome for laicisation to be carried out.

Some six applications for dismissal are under way against the 14 convicted priests.

The programme stated that one further decision to pursue dismissal has been taken.

Three other dismissals were rejected by Rome or not pursued for health reasons.

And in the remaining four cases no applications have been made but the clergymen are subject to risk management in the community.

Bill Kilgallon, chairman of the NCSC, told Channel 4 News that Rome accepted the authority of the English court system which had convicted the paedophile priests.

He said: "Obviously the court's view is accepted and, as you know, in England all allegations are referred to the statutory authorities; they are not investigated within the Church, they are handed over to the statutory authorities."

Asked if the Catholic Church did not "get" child abuse, he replied: "The Church does get it, and what you have got here is a minority of cases where a decision has been taken in the specific cases referred to because of the particular conditions there.

"The general rule is people are put forward for laicisation and that we strongly support."

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